New Delhi: The closest Dhanraj Pillay came to an Olympics medal was in the 2000 Sydney Olympics when India lost to Poland to miss out on a potential semi-final berth. Pillay, an all-time hockey legend, had tears of heartbreak that day 24 years back. On Sunday, Pillay once again had tears after India doggedly defended for 42 minutes with nine men on the outfield and the special man named PR Sreejesh, who keeps raising the ‘bar’ as the Men in Blue defeated Great Britain 4-2 (SO) to book thyeir spot in the semifinals of the ongoing Paris Olympics 2024.
Despite being a man down in the second quarter, India took the lead through captain Harmanpreet Singh only to see Lee Morton equalize for Great Britain early in the second quarter. Thereafter, it was all about Sreejesh standing tall in front of the Great Britain strikers as the 37-year-old, playing his final international tournament, making saves after saves.
“I couldn’t stop my tears. I have never seen such performance in many years and now I am convinced that this team can bring us the Olympic gold after 44 years,” the former India skipper said. As soon as Rajkumar Pal scored the winning goal in the shoot-off, an emotional Dhanraj, glued to the TV at home, jumped in joy.
“Tears started falling from my eyes automatically. I saw such a match for the first time after the Sydney Olympics 2000. Sreejesh was standing like a wall in front of the goalpost and the number of saves he made is nothing short of a miracle,” Dhanraj, who has played four Olympics and four World Cups, said.
“I had goosebumps while watching the match. I was so happy that I started shouting loudly after India’s fourth goal in the penalty shootout. I was told that people in my society apartment would come out but I was so happy that I could not control,” said the veteran.
Eight times champion India won the last Olympic gold in Moscow in 1980 and after 41 years Indian team brought a bronze medal from Tokyo games in 2020. “After many years, I enjoyed the match to the fullest. I did not move from my place even for a minute,” he said while trying to control his emotions.
Pillay heaped high praise for Harmanpreet and his boys. “I have no words to praise this performance. Playing over 40 minutes of the quarter-final with 10 players was not easy. We were defensive but that was necessary. The way Sreejesh and our defenders played today and the way all four of them showed amazing skills in the penalty shootout. I am speechless,” he said.
When asked what advice he would give to the team for the semi-finals, he said, “I would advise them to play in the same way and not put any pressure on themselves. The way this team has played these six matches, I am sure that it can bring us the Olympic gold medal after 44 years.”
“This team has everything that is needed to become an Olympic champion. Along with the players, I was seeing Craig Fulton and Shivendra Singh in the coaching staff, how full of energy they were and how they were constantly standing and giving instructions,” he said.
